High School Boys

A Family Tragedy and Lacrosse Tell a Valuable Story

by Jason Carr with Bo and Lauren Jackson

Parker Jackson, then a sophomore
at Milton High in Georgia, passed away in a single-car auto
accident in 2006. His family, out of their grief, created the
annual Legacy Lacrosse Cup, which annually brings teams to Georgia
for a weekend of games and clinics and provides an opportunity to
hear Parker's story.
Image courtesy Jackson family

November 7, 2006 was a day that changed the lives of a family
forever. Sixteen-year-old Parker Jackson was killed in a single car
no-fault accident. It shook his family to the core and what came
from that is what this story is all about.

Parker loved the sport of lacrosse and played the game with an
intense passion. He loved not only the game, but also the
friendships that can only come from teammates you share the battle
on the field. Parker spent a lot of time developing his lacrosse
skills and even inspired others to pick up the sport. When he
passed away, a whole community grieved over the loss of an
incredible teenager. The Atlanta lacrosse community grieved over
the loss of one of its brightest stars. Parker was a sophomore
playing on Milton's varsity team.

Parker's parents, Bo and Lauren Jackson of Milton, Georgia, knew
that somehow and someway Parker's story was meant for something. In
the midst of dealing with the reality of Parker's loss, they were
overwhelmed by support and love from the lacrosse community that
their son was immersed in. That support and their belief in God led
them to passionately pursue a way to make something great from
Parker's loss.

The Jacksons wanted to capture the spirit that motivated Parker
and leverage his story for something special. They knew that
Parker's story mattered then and still does now. Out of their grief
and then clarity, they created the Legacy
Lacrosse Cup. The Legacy Cup, this year held April 13
and 14 in Milton, is an incredible weekend experience that brings
together 15 of the best boys and girls high school lacrosse teams
from across the country to compete. The fans always look forward to
this weekend of high school games and a spirited collegiate game
featuring Georgia and Georgia Tech.

In addition, the Friday night players and coaches dinner is a
unique element to the weekend. Friday evening features music, games
and a challenging, inspirational message of truth, that we are
living our legacies now. Sharing Parker's story every year has left
a lasting impression. Now, five years later, the ripples of
Parker's legacy continue to impact thousands of young people.

The tournament has developed special environments featuring
product demos, skills clinics with pro players, and other fun games
to encourage young players to play lacrosse. LXM Pro Kyle Harrison
has participated in every Legacy Lacrosse Cup. Kyle shares his
lacrosse knowledge, does some demos and shows support for what the
Jacksons are doing. Though Kyle never met Parker, he has worn the
initials PJ on his helmet since becoming involved with the Legacy
Cup.

It has been said that it's darkest before the dawn. For the
Jacksons the darkness led to a truth they want everyone to live
out: our legacy and story matter. Their hope is that every player
and fan would be intentional and realize that their decisions and
choices matter now.

The Legacy Lacrosse Cup has become a great venue for competitive
lacrosse every year, and a great venue to challenge some of the
best players in the country with one simple message: your story
matters.